Book I. AGRICULTURE IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 137 



in society, have sought only the means of subsistence ; and finding, without difficulty, 

 potatoes, milk, and a hovel, have overspread the land w^ith a w^retched offspring. 



851. To these causes of a redundant population, of which the government of the 

 country is, directly or indirectly, the source, are to be added others of a diiferent kind. 



8i52. Tfie first is the influence of the parish priests, who encourage marriage, in order to increase their 

 own emoluments, and the superstition of the people, who regard it as a religious duty. 



853. The second cause is, the general ignorance of the people. 



85'1. On the influence of education, in restraining the tendency to early and imprudent marriage, it 

 would be superfluous in this place to enlarge. 



855. Various other circumstances have combined to multiply to a great degree the 

 facilities of population, and to expand, in tliis country, beyond almost any other, the 

 means of subsistence. 



856. The fertility of the country may be mentioned as one of the most obvious of these 

 circumstances. The soil of Ireland is in general so rich, that it will yield an alternate 

 crop of wheat and potatoes for ever, without any very great labour, and with little manure. 

 The introduction of the potato, and its singular adaptation to the soil and climate of 

 Ireland, are other concurring causes. An acre of potatoes, according to Newenham, will 

 yield four times as much nourishment as one of wheat. By thus expanding the means 

 of human subsistence, the potato has greatly promoted the population of Ireland ; but 

 as the able writer, from wliom we have selected the above remarks, observes, " unless 

 the people are predisposed, from other causes, to press upon the means of subsistence, 

 it has no tendency to augment their redundance. Under the government and political 

 institutions of the Irish, the population of the country would have been equally redundant, 

 though much smaller that it now is, if they had lived on oats or wheaten bread. The 

 introduction of the potato may be the cause why the population is now six in place of 

 three millions : but it is not the cause why, during the whole period of this increase, 

 the numbers of the people have been greater than, under existing circumstances, could 

 be comfortably maintained." [Sup. Encyc Brit-, art. Ireland.) 



857. That agriculture has made cojisiderable progress in Ireland since the above was 

 written, nearly twenty years ago, is obvious from the increased exports of wheat and 

 other grain from her ports ; but it may be questioned whether during this period any 

 advance has taken place in the comforts of the general mass of her population. It is a 

 remarkable fact, that in the year 1823, when great numbers of the labouring class in 

 Ireland were starving from a failure in the potato crop, and when large subscriptions 

 were raising in England, and even on the Continent, for their relief, the exportation of 

 grain was going on from Cork and other Irish ports, as if nothing had happened. Be- 

 fore much improvement can take place in the condition of the mass of Irish population, 

 it is necessajy that they should possess such a taste for the comforts of life as will restrain 

 the principle of population, by lessening the number of early marriages, or inducing 

 that degree of restraint rendered expedient by a prudent foresight. At present nothing 

 more is necessary for the happiness of an Irish country labourer and his family than straw 

 and potatoes : if these fail him he is lost, because he can fall no lower ; if any thing is su- 

 peradded to his means, it only increases the desire for these necessaries, produces a greater 

 number of children, and creates an additional demand for straw and potatoes. It is gratify- 

 ing, however, to be able to state that the time seems arrived for the introduction of domestic 

 improvement among the peasantry of Ireland. At no former period has the British 

 government manifested so much anxiety to discover the real causes of Che miseries which 

 afflict that country, and in every session of parliament some enactments are made for its 

 amelioration. The enlightened principles of political economy which are now acted on 

 by ministers, and the knowledge of this science which within these few years has spread 

 among all classes, cannot fail to bring Ireland rapidly forward in civilisation and refine- 

 ment ; and we wish it may be to such a degree, as in a very few years to render the 

 account which we have above given mere matter of history. No one can desire this 

 result more ardently than we do. 



Chap. VI. 



Of the present State of Agriculture in Ultra-European Countries. 



858. In this department of our history the reader will not expect more than a very slight 

 outline ; not only from our limited space and the comparative scarcity of materials, but 

 because the subject is less interesting to general readers. We shall notice in succession 

 the principal countries of Asia, Africa, Australia, and America. 



